The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera with Sophie Minchilli

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I’ve been coming to Puglia since I was born. My father, Domenico, is from Bari, the capital of this sun-soaked regio, and his family home has always been my base for exploring everything Puglia has to offer. Over the years, I’ve built a life and career around sharing the food, places, and people I love here, through tours, social media, and my book The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

This six-night journey begins in Bari, where we’ll spend four days discovering the city’s hidden corners and using it as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and coast. You’ll meet many of the producers, cooks, and artisans I’ve come to know over the years, and experience the region the way I have: through meals, stories, and warm hospitality.

Midweek, we’ll head to Matera, a stunning cave-filled city in nearby Basilicata. There, we’ll stay in a luxurious 5-star cave hotel and spend two days exploring one of the most magical towns in Italy.

I hope you’ll join me for a week of unforgettable meals, meaningful connections, and a deep dive into the food culture of southern Italy. – Sophie Minchilli

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera with Zoë François

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I had barely heard of Puglia before Elizabeth Minchilli invited me to explore the region on a Via Rosa tour. Now, I’m completely in love—with its sun-drenched towns, crystal-clear beaches, ancient stone dwellings, and its deep-rooted traditions of baking and pasta making.

Puglia is known as the “breadbasket” and “garden” of Italy, thanks to its abundant wheat fields, olive groves, almond trees, and incredible produce. The food is extraordinary—rustic breads, handmade pastas, and some of the freshest, most spectacular seafood I’ve ever tasted.

Just next door lies Matera, one of the most magical places I’ve ever experienced. This breathtaking city, carved into ancient caves and rolling hills, is unlike anywhere else in the world. Staying in a one-of-a-kind luxury cave hotel feels surreal. The winding staircases and dramatic views remind me of M.C. Escher’s Relativity brought to life. It’s truly a hiker’s paradise.

And don’t miss breakfast at the cave hotel—it’s one of the most unforgettable meals I’ve ever had.

I hope you’ll join me in discovering this extraordinary, still somewhat hidden gem of a region. –
Zoë

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera with Sophie Minchilli

by

I’ve been coming to Puglia since I was born. My father, Domenico, is from Bari, the capital of this sun-soaked regio, and his family home has always been my base for exploring everything Puglia has to offer. Over the years, I’ve built a life and career around sharing the food, places, and people I love here, through tours, social media, and my book The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

This six-night journey begins in Bari, where we’ll spend four days discovering the city’s hidden corners and using it as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and coast. You’ll meet many of the producers, cooks, and artisans I’ve come to know over the years, and experience the region the way I have: through meals, stories, and warm hospitality.

Midweek, we’ll head to Matera, a stunning cave-filled city in nearby Basilicata. There, we’ll stay in a luxurious 5-star cave hotel and spend two days exploring one of the most magical towns in Italy.

I hope you’ll join me for a week of unforgettable meals, meaningful connections, and a deep dive into the food culture of southern Italy. – Sophie Minchilli

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera

by

I’ve been coming to Puglia since I was born. My father, Domenico, is from Bari—the capital of this region—and his family home has always been my base for exploring everything Puglia has to offer. Over the years, I’ve built a life and career around sharing the food, places, and people I love here, through tours, social media, and my book The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

This six-night journey begins in Bari, where we’ll spend four days discovering the city’s hidden corners and using it as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and coast. You’ll meet many of the producers, cooks, and artisans I’ve come to know over the years, and experience the region the way I have: through meals, stories, and warm hospitality.

Midweek, we’ll head to Matera, a stunning cave-filled city in the nearby region of Basilicata. There, we’ll stay in a luxurious 5-star cave hotel and spend two days exploring one of the most magical towns in Italy.

I hope you’ll join me for a week of unforgettable meals, meaningful connections, and a deep dive into the food culture of southern Italy. – Sophie Minchilli

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera

by

I’ve been coming to Puglia since I was born. My father, Domenico, is from Bari—the capital of this region—and his family home has always been my base for exploring everything Puglia has to offer. Over the years, I’ve built a life and career around sharing the food, places, and people I love here, through tours, social media, and my book The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

This six-night journey begins in Bari, where we’ll spend four days discovering the city’s hidden corners and using it as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and coast. You’ll meet many of the producers, cooks, and artisans I’ve come to know over the years, and experience the region the way I have: through meals, stories, and warm hospitality.

Midweek, we’ll head to Matera, a stunning cave-filled city in the nearby region of Basilicata. There, we’ll stay in a luxurious 5-star cave hotel and spend two days exploring one of the most magical towns in Italy.

I hope you’ll join me for a week of unforgettable meals, meaningful connections, and a deep dive into the food culture of southern Italy. – Sophie Minchilli

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera

by

Sophie Minchilli has been spending time in Puglia since she was born. Her father, Domenico, is from Puglia’s capital, Bari, and his family home there has been her base to explore the entire region. She has since built a career there, sharing her passion for the region through social media, tours, and her book, The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

Matera, in Basilicata, is one of Italy’s most magical towns. Built amid ravines, the cave-filled Unesco World Heritage site is unique in the world. Join Sophie to spend two nights in a luxurious 5-star hotel as your base to discover this magical place.

During the 6-day tour, you’ll explore all Sophie loves about this region, from a completely food-centric point of view. Your base for the first 4 days will be Bari, Puglia, before moving on to Matera, Basilicata for 2 nights.

During this week you’ll visit some of her favorite places and meet friends — in small towns, through the countryside, and by the sea— tasting, drinking, eating, learning, and having fun. The days will be full of adventures, but don’t worry, you’ll have downtime as well to head off on your own to explore.

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera

by

Sophie Minchilli has been spending time in Puglia since she was born. Her father, Domenico, is from Puglia’s capital, Bari, and his family home there has been her base to explore the entire region. She has since built a career there, sharing her passion for the region through social media, tours, and her book, The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

Matera, in Basilicata, is one of Italy’s most magical towns. Built amid ravines, the cave-filled Unesco World Heritage site is unique in the world. Join Sophie to spend two nights in a luxurious 5-star hotel as your base to discover this magical place.

During the 6-day tour, you’ll explore all Sophie loves about this region, from a completely food-centric point of view. Your base for the first 4 days will be Bari, Puglia, before moving on to Matera, Basilicata for 2 nights.

During this week you’ll visit some of her favorite places and meet friends — in small towns, through the countryside, and by the sea— tasting, drinking, eating, learning, and having fun. The days will be full of adventures, but don’t worry, you’ll have downtime as well to head off on your own to explore.

The Culture of Food in Puglia & Matera

by

Sophie Minchilli has been spending time in Puglia since she was born. Her father, Domenico, is from Puglia’s capital, Bari, and his family home there has been her base to explore the entire region. She has since built a career there, sharing her passion for the region through social media, tours, and her book, The Sweetness of Doing Nothing.

Matera, in Basilicata, is one of Italy’s most magical towns. Built amid ravines, the cave-filled Unesco World Heritage site is unique in the world. Join Sophie to spend two nights in a luxurious 5-star hotel as your base to discover this magical place.

During the 6-day tour, you’ll explore all Sophie loves about this region, from a completely food-centric point of view. Your base for the first 4 days will be Bari, Puglia, before moving on to Matera, Basilicata for 2 nights.

During this week you’ll visit some of her favorite places and meet friends — in small towns, through the countryside, and by the sea— tasting, drinking, eating, learning, and having fun. The days will be full of adventures, but don’t worry, you’ll have downtime as well to head off on your own to explore.